Device for feeding strips of material

ABSTRACT

A device for feeding strips of material such as labels includes a picker having gripping means such as a suction element which is movable to engage a label from a stack of labels in a magazine and to withdraw it from a magazine. The picker comprises a rotatable manifold which is rotatably supported on a crank arm. The rotational movement of the picker is guided by a planetary gear engaged within an internal gear in a manner to cause the suction member of the picker to move inwardly substantially normal to each label to grip the label and to move it away with the picker in a direction substantially normal to the label. The picker manifold advantageously includes two radially extending arm portions which communicate during their rotation with a pressure regulating plate for alternately connecting the suction member to a vacuum and to a positive or atmospheric pressure for engaging and releasing the label during its movement. The label which is engaged and removed from the magazine is either transferred to an intermediate take off roller or applied directly to a label support surface on a rotatable drum which moves the label into association with either adhesive applying means or heating means so that it will have a surface which may be subsequently directed onto a device such as a container which is to receive the label. The receiving roller advantageously moves through a path which intercepts a belt conveyor having suction means for withdrawing the label from the individual supports and then moving it onto a receiving article such as a container which is moved thereagainst. The label receiving drum may advantageously include supporting surfaces which are associated with pressure control means for applying a receiving suction for engagement of the label and a positive pressure for the disengagement of the label as necessary. In addition the supporting surfaces may be moved outwardly for engagement of the label during the transfer thereof from the picker. The support elements may also be for either effecting the direct withdrawal of the labels from a magazine or be oriented to receive the labels from a picker member.

United States Patent Takagiet al.

[is] 3,682,470 I Aug. 8,1972

[54] DEVICE FOR FEEDING STRIPS OF MATERIAL [72] Inventors: KoichiTakagi, Nagoya City; Masuho Yamada, Anjo City, both of Japan 73'Assignee: Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, Japan [22] Filed:July 7, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 52,865

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Primary Examiner-J. WegbreitAttorney-McGlew and Toren [57] ABSTRACT A device for feeding strips ofmaterial such as labels includes a picker having gripping means such asa suction element which is movable to engage a label from a stack oflabels in a magazine and to withdraw it from a magazine. The pickercomprises a rotatable manifold which is rotatably supported on a crankarm. The rotational movement of the picker is guided by a planetary gearengaged within an internal gear in a manner to cause the suction memberof the picker to move inwardly substantially normal to each label togrip the label and to move it away with the picker in a directionsubstantially normal to the label. The picker manifold advantageouslyincludes two radially extending ann portions which communicate duringtheir rotation with a pressure regulating plate for alternatelyconnecting the suction member to a vacuum and to a positive oratmospheric pressure for engaging and releasing the label during itsmovement. The label which is engaged and removed from the magazine iseither transferred to an intermediate take off roller or applieddirectly to a label support surface on a rotatable drum which moves thelabel into association with either adhesive applying means or heatingmeans so that it will have a surface which may be subsequently directedonto a device such as a container which is to receive the label. Thereceiving roller advantageously moves through a path which intercepts abelt conveyor having suction means for withdrawing the label from theindividual supports and then moving it onto a receiving article such asa container which is moved thereagainst. The label receiving drum mayadvantageously include supporting surfaces which are associated withpressure control means for applyir ga receiving suction for engagementof the label and a positive pressure for the disengagement of the labelas necessary. In addition the supporting surfaces may be moved outwardlyfor engagement of the label during the transfer thereof from the picker.The support elements may also be for either effecting the directwithdrawal of the labels from a magazine or be oriented to receive thelabels from a picker member.

13 Claim, 19 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAUQ 8 I972 SHEET 2 BF 4 INVENTORSKoichi Tokogi Musuho Yomodo y %%/M ATTORNEYS PATENTEDAUB a 19123,682,470

sum 3 OF 4 lNVEA/TORS Koichi Tokogi Mosuho Yomodo ATTORNEYS PATENTEU M198 3.682 .470

sum u or 4 VIII/ 55 fl? 5? A FIG. ll

#vvgvrms Koichi TOkOQI Mosu ho Yomudo ATTORNEYS DEVICE FOR FEEDINGSTRIPS OF MATERIAL SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates ingeneral to the construction of feeding devices for individual lengths ofstrip material, such as labels, and in particular to a new and usefulfeeding device which includes a picker member having gripping meanswhich is adapted to be moved through a path substantially normal to thelabel to engage it and to thereafter move in a direction substantiallynormal to the label magazine with the label to a station for example fortransfer of the label to means for applying it to an article.

There is an ever increasing demand for the construction of a device forapplying labels to articles at ever increasing speeds. In one attempt todesign a label feeding machine with-increased speed, the label magazineis swingably mounted for movement in the vicinity of a turntable pickerand when suction means on a picker approaches a magazine the front endedportion thereof moves forward, within the predetermined range, in timedrelationship to the picker suction means in order to transfer the labelto the latter. After the completion of the transfer, the magazine movesback ready for the next feed stroke. With such a construction, theordinary label machines require one reciprocating motion of the magazinefor each label to be fed thus taking too much time for any marked speedup of operation. In addition, the label magazine during the operation isrequired to repeat the swinging motions for each feeding operation. Inaddition, for each replenishment of the supply of the labels, the entiremachine has to be 7 moved in a manner such that it moves toward and awayfrom the individual labels of the magazine at directions substantiallynormal to the labels. For this purpose the picker comprises a rotarymanifold having internal passages which communicate a suction memberthereon alternately with a vacuum and either atmosphere or a positivepressure, in order to provide for engagement and release of theindividuallabels from the magazine. The manifold is rotatably mounted ona crank arm and carries a planetary gear which is guided within aninternal gear. The combined rotary movement of the crank arm and themanifold causes the suction elements of the picker to move through apath which causes the approach and withdrawal of the suction member tobe substantially perpendicular to the individual labels. This means thatthe speed of the movement of the picker may be very rapid and positivefeeding of the labels one after the other may be accomplished withoutrequiring any shut down of the machines or delay of the high speedoperation. Because the gripping elements on the picker approach themagazine from a normal direction and leave in the same manner, thelabels can be positively taken out one after the other at extremely highspeeds. Because the label magazine is fixed, the supply of labelstherein can be constantly replenished without any shut down of theoperation.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the feedingmechanism advantageously includes a transfer roller which provides anintermediatetransfer of the labels from the picker or the labels may betransferred directly onto a receiving support surface of a rotary drum.The rotary drum is provided with support surfaces which advantageouslyinclude means which are synchronously presented to the picker after itis removed from the magazine with the label so that the label will betransferred easily to the support surface. For this purpose the supportsurface advantageously includes internal passage means for communicatingthe surface with suction means for aiding in the transfer. In addition,the support surfaces may advantageously be mounted on individualradially extending supports which are guided outwardly to cause thereceiving of the labels on the surface from the picker and then themovement of the supports backwardly against the periphery of the drum.The drum is advantageously arranged in association with means forapplying an adhesive to the exterior surface of the label on the supportsurface, or to provide a heating effect thereto in the case of a labelsuch as a plastic label which may be applied by heat sealing. As thedrum is rotated it moves to a transfer point which intercepts a conveyorbelt having a vacuum roll for receiving each label in succession as theindividual support surfaces are moved thereto. The conveyor belt isarranged to rotate through a path which intercepts an article to receivethe label, such as a container or the like.

In the preferred arrangement of the invention, the picker membercomprises a plurality of individual sucker elements which are movedduring the rotation ofthe picker in succession into a grippingengagement with an associated label. in addition, a plurality ofrotatably supported picker elements may be arranged around a receivingdrum and may operate through a rotatable planetary movement which movesits associated picker into association with a separate magazine supplyof the labels, so that the drum receives labels from more than onesource at a time.

In still another form of the invention, a plurality of rotatable pickermembers are rotatably supported on angularly spaced radially extendingarms of a single shaft member all of which are guided by a singleannular gear which guides the suction elements of each picker so that itwill move toward away from the associated magazines in directionsperpendicular to the surfaces of the labels. In addition, the pickerelements may be moved directly into association with adhesive applyingmeans or heating means so that the labels can be transferred directlyfrom the pickers onto a receiving article such as a can which is alsomoved into association with the rotating and revolving picker members.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a stripmaterial feeding device which includes a fixed magazine for holding aplurality of the strip material elements at a fixed location and apicker which has gripping means and which is mounted for rotary movementsuch that it approaches and engages a label-in a direction normal to thelabel and also moves away from the label in a normal direction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a high speed labeloperating device which includes a picker member which is advantageouslyin the form of a rotary manifold having a suction finger which iscommunicated during rotation of the member with a source of suction forremoving the label and wherein the picker member is mounted on a crankarm and is guided by engagement of a planetary gear thereon with aninternal gear so that the suction finger moves substantially normaltoward and away from a fixed magazine for the rapid removal of labels insuccession from the magazine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a label feeding devicewhich includes a picker having gripping means for removing labels bymovement in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface ofthe label in a fixed magazine, and for thereafter transferring the labelor moving it directly into association with a support surface, of a drumwhich is movable to advance the support surface first toward means forconditioning the label for adhesive engagement to an article andthereafter toward means for applying it directly to the article.

A further object of the invention is to provide a label feeding devicewhich includes a plurality of rotary picker members each of which isguided for movement on a crank arm such that is approaches a label at afixed magazine and moves away from the label in a directionsubstantially normal thereto and wherein all of the picker members aremoved through an annular path on the associated mounting arms past meansfor conditioning the label for application to an article and then intodirect association with an article for applying the label to thearticle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a label feeding andapplying machine which is simple in design, rugged in construction andeconomical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this specification. For a better understanding of thisinvention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by itsuse, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings anddescriptive matter in which there are illustrated and describedpreferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a label feeding device constructed inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section taken along the line H-II of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a pressure control plate; FIG. 4 is asection taken on the line IV-IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic plan view of the movement of the picker memberand the associated mechanisms;

FIG. 6 is a top plan of another embodiment of label feeding mechanismwhich also includes a mechanism for applying the labels to an articlesuch as a can;

FIGS. 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d, 7e, 7f, 7g, and 7h are schematic plan views of thelabel feeding mechanism indicating the various stages of feedingoperation;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of still another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view partly in section on an enlarged scale of theessential mechanism of the apparatus indicated in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a section taken FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a section taken along the line XI-XI of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of a further embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to thedrawings in particular, the invention embodied therein as indicated inFIGS. 1 to 5, comprises a label feeding device which includes a table 1having a bearing 2 which is secured thereto by bolts 3 for rotatablysupporting a shaft 4. The shaft 4 is rotated by a drive gear 6 whichdrives through a gear 5 affixed to the shaft 4.

In accordance with the invention, a crank arm 8 is affixed to the shaft4 for rotation therewith and it carries a stub shaft 7 which rotatablysupports a picker or picker manifold member generally designated 10. Apressure control plate or evacuating plate 9 is associated with thepicker l0 and each is rotatably supported on the shaft 7 by bearings 1 1and 12, respectively.

As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the pressure control plate 9 includes atop surface having a semi-circular groove 13 and an arcuate groove 14spaced therefrom. The groove 13 provides a vacuum pressure connectionthrough the passage 15 and a passage 23 in the picker 10 to individualsucker members or suction elements 21. The short arcuate groove 14 whichis spaced from the groove 13 provides a communication with eitheratmosphere or compressed air through a passageway 16 of the controlplate 9 and through the passage 24 to the suction elements 22 when theyare in the positions as indicated in FIG. 2. When the elements 22 moveto the active position engaged with a label 32 of a magazine 28, as isthe case in respect to the suction elements 21, then the passage 24 willalign with the suction passage through the groove 13. Similarly thesuction elements 21 when they move to the position of the elements 22 asshown in FIG. 2 they will becommunicated with atmospheric pressure.

As indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the picker member 10 comprises a cylinderhaving a hub portion 10a with an annular gear portion 20 therearoundwhich meshes with an internal gear 25 which is secured in a fixedposition over the table 1 by a bolt 27 and a bracket member 26. An arm17 is connected, at its one end, to the pressure control plate 9 asindicated in FIG. 2, and at its opposite end, it is connected to a pin19 of a crank lever 18 which is pivotally supported on a pin 20 carriedby the table 1. During the operation the shaft 7 moves around the axisof the shaft 4 and, under the guidance of the arm 8 and the crank lever18, which will swing in the directions indicated by the double arrow,plate 9 oscillates about shaft 7 through a small arc.

The picker cylinder 10 includes a cylindrical portion or hub 10a andradially extending arm portions 101) and 10b which are radially arrangedin respect to the axis of the shaft 7. The lower part of the picker 10includes a protrusion 10c which is provided with the spur gear 20.

along the line X--X of The arm portions b, 10b carry rows of suckers 21and 22, respectively, and, in the embodiment shown, these comprise threein number arranged in vertical alignment. These suction elements 21 and22 comprise gripper means which are associated with the picker 10, andeach is communicated with an negative pressure for the engagement of thelabel and subsequently with atmospheric pressure or a positive pressureto permit disengagement of the label 28.

The picker is rotated around its own axis and at the same time revolvesaround the shaft 4 as the shaft 7 moves around the axis of the shaft 4.In addition, because the gear ratio of the gear to the internal gear 25,in the embodiment shown, is 2:3, a single rotation of the shaft 4 willbring either arm of the picker 10 back to the magazine position adjacentthe magazine 28. The motion of the individual pickers 21, 22 isindicated by the curved path shown by the letters i, f g and h in FIG.5. The center point of the shaft 4 in the internal gear is located at a.The center point of the spur gear 20 is located at b and the pitchcircle of the spur gear 20 is located at c. The pitch circle of theinternal gear 25 is located at d. The curve e in FIG. 5 as well as inFIG. 1, indicates the locus of movement of the shaft 7. The lines whichconnect the front ends of the rows of the suckers 21 and 22 intersectthe pitch circle 0.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the label magazine 28 includes a pawl 29 anda keep plate 30. The front tip of the compressed air pipe 31 is openedin the keep plate 30. Labels 32 are packed in the magazine and areretained in position by the pawl 29 and the keep plate as indicated.

The operation of the machine shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 is as follows:

.The shaft 4 is rotated by the gear 6 to cause rotation of the crank arm8 and the revolving movement of the shaft 7 around a circle defined byalternate short and long dash lines e in FIG. 5, and in the directionindicated by the arrow A in that Figure. The picker 10 and the spur gear20 rotate around the shaft 7 and, at the same time, they revolve alongthe internal gear 25. When the shaft 4 makes a complete turn, one pointof the picker 10 which faces the label 32 moves from the position f inFIG. 5, in the direction indicated by the arrow B, to the position g.Thereafter the picker moves in the direction of the arrow C from thepoint g to the point i and during this movement it passes the positionh. After a complete revolution of the shaft 4 takes place it reaches thepoint i and then moves during the next revolution from the point i inthe direction of the arrow D to the position f. The points f, g, h, andi correspond to the point positions of a row of suction elements 21 andthe other point diametrically across the shaft 7 corresponds to theposition of the roll suction elements 22. From the above it is notedthat the suction elements 21 and 22 both approach the labels 32 along acurve i-f and retreat from the labels along a f-g. Each of these curvesapproaches substantially a perpendicular path in respect to the surfaceof the labels 32. The deviation of the movement from the perpendicularpath is no greater than 10.

As the suction elements 21 or 22 approach the labels 32 the associatedpassages 23 and 24 (FIG. 2) which connect to these individual elementsmove to a position in which they overlie a portion of the annular groove13 and thus a suction pressure is communicated to the respective picker21 or 22. The labels 32 are held in the magan'ne by the pawl 29 and thekeep plate 30 in such a manner that they are separated from one anotherby compressed air which is supplied through compressed air pipe 31.Therefore the foremost label is immediately attracted by the suctionpressure toward the associated suction element and carried away from theremaining elements in the direction of the position g. When either ofthe suction elements 21 or 22 are moved toward the position h from theposition g they move on the control plate 9 to uncover the short arcuateslot 14 so that the suction pressure is removed and the associatedsuction element is connected to atmosphere. This reduction of suctionpressure releases the label 32, and immediately after its release, it iscaught up by a transfer roll of the type indicated 40 in FIG. 6, whichcomes into the position h and moves away from this position to carry thelabel to the next operating station.

By arranging the suction elements 21 and 22 such that they move along apath which extends substantially normal to and away from the labels andby arranging the labels such that the end one is already separated fromthe remaining stack, it is possible to feed the labels no matter at howhigh a speed the picker 10 is driven.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the label feeding device alsoincludes means for transferring the label into association with anarticle to be covered by the label and to condition the label for suchapplication. The feeding and transfer mechanism of FIG. 6 includes aplurality of magazines 28 arranged at angularly spaced locations arounda central transfer drum or rotary wheel 42. Each magazine stationincludes a picker generally designated 10 which is identical to thepicker described in respect to FIGS. 1 to 5. When each of the pickers 10are moved to the position corresponding to the position h in FIG. 5,they intersect carrying elements or lobes 40a and 40b of a rotarytransfer member 41 which rotates in the direction indicated by the arrowin FIG. 6. Each receiving surface 40a and 40b includes gripper means forexample, in the form of a negative pressure suction apparatus (notshown) which causes a suction action as the element passes the point hto remove a label from an associated picker 21 or 22 and transfer it toan associated surface 400 or 40b. Thereafter the label is transported toa support surface 43 on rotary drum 42 which includes a plurality ofsuch surfaces spaced around its periphery. The drum 42 is mounted on ashaft 44 for rotation therewith in the direction indicated by the arrowso that the peripheral velocity of the label supports 43 is keptsubstantially equal to that of the surfaces 40a or 40b. One of thesurfaces 40a and 40b mates during each revolution with every other labelsupport surface 43 while the other one mates with the surfaces 43between these. Conditioning means, in the form of a rotatable roller 45,is arranged to engage the surface 43 for the purpose of either heatingthe labels or applying an adhesive thereto to ensure the sticking of thelabel when it is applied onto an article.

A conveyor is arranged to operate adjacent the roller 42 and it includesa vacuum roller which defines a nip with each of the label supportingsurfaces 43 as they are moved thereby. A belt 47 is trained around thevacuum roller 46 and an additional roller 46' at the opposite end. Thebelt 47 which continually runs on the conveyor rollers 46 and 46' movesinto association with each label on a support 43 as it moves around andtherefore, the belt transfers this label from the support to an articlesuch as a can or container 100 which is moved under the belt and over asponge table 48. The cans 100 are moved from a feed path 101 intoassociation with a timing screw 49 so that they move beneath the vacuumroll 46 in time to receive the label in a manner such that it will bewrapped around the surface thereof and pressed into engagement therewithas it moves between the sponge table 48 and the belt 47. During the.rotation of the pickers 10, the associated suction elements 21 and 22are alternately moved into contact with the support 400 and 40b of thetransfer roller 40 or directly with alternate ones of the label supports43 on the drum 42. The labels with the paste side or heated side turnedoutwardly are transferred onto the conveyor belt 47 from each support43, and, as they are applied to each container 100 in succession theyare stretched out in a crease proof fashion by means of the roller belt47 and the sponge table 48.

The construction permits the continuous smooth supply of labels to eachcontainer no matter how high the speed of the pickers 10. FIGS. 7a to 7eshow the sequence of movement of each of the elements during the feedout of the labels from the magazine 32 to the support surfaces 43 of thedrum 42.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 8 to 11, a plurality of magazines 28 arearranged at angularly spaced locations around a drum 55, for example ata spacing of 90 apart. The drum 55 includes a fixed shaft 50 whichmounts cams 51 and 52 as seen in FIG. 10. One of the cams, that is thecam 51, is formed with a groove 53 which extends in one axial directionand an opposite cam 52 is formed with a groove 54 opposed to the firstgroove. The drum 55 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 50, and on theperiphery of the drum are supported a plurality of radially movablelabel supports 56. In the embodiment shown, eight supports 56 areprovided which move radially inwardly and outwardly under the control ofthe cam 53 and 54. For this purpose, each of the supports 56 includeslegs 57 which have rollers, one including roller 58 which engages in thegroove 53 and each additional alternate support including a roller 58which engages in a groove 54. A suction control plate 59 is arrangedadjacent the top of the drum and it carries a passageway whichcommunicates at the proper time with a vacuum line 60 carried on amember 60 which is biased into contact with the plate. The suctionpressure is communicated through passages to suction elements 56 a oneach support 56 and this suction is effective whenever the label is tobe transferred to the surface. At other times the suction element 560 iscommunicated with a compressed air source or is opened to atmosphere inorder to provide a dislodging of the label from the surface 56. A spurgear 61 is affixed to the shaft 50 and it receives a driving rotationfrom further a gear drive means (not shown).

With the above construction as described in FIGS. 8 to 1 1, each of thelabels 32 is taken out of the magazine 28 by the suction means 21 of thepickers and arrive at the position h shown in FIG. 5. The rotary drum 55with the label supports 56 is moved so that as the support 56 approachesthe transfer point h its roller guide 58 is moved in the associatedguide groove 53 to cause it to rise from the rotary drum surface 55 toreceive the label. The next adjacent support 56 is guided by the groove54 to move away from the periphery of the rotary drum 55 and to receivea respective label 32. Thereafter, each label is moved into associationwith a paste applicator 62 for coating the rear side thereof. With thepasted face turned outward it is transferred to the conveyor belt andupon arrival at a predetermined position in respect to the belt 47 eachlabel 32 is released due to the removal of the suction from the suctionelements 56a and the label is transferred to the periphery of thecontainer 100. With this arrangement, each support surface 56 which isto receive a label moves away from the periphery of the drum andthereafter returns to the drum with the label which is transferred bythe picker. In this manner the various transfer elements do notinterfere with the operation of the pickers of the next adjacentstations. Because all of the functions are accomplished on a single drumthe whole machine can be simplified in construction. The means forholding the labels on the various supports may be similar to that shownin FIGS. 8 to 1 1 or it may comprise any kind of a means such as a tackysurface such as shown or suggested in FIG. 6.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, a shaft 4' similar to that shown inFIG. 1 is provided, which is driven in a similar manner. A plurality ofangularly spaced arms such as eight arms as shown in this embodiment aresecured to the shaft 4' for rotation therewith. Each arm 70 carries ashaft 7 which rotatably supports a picker 10' of the type indicated inthe embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5. Each picker 10 includes a planetary gearwhich is meshed with an internal gear having a pitch circle indicated at25. The planetary gears 10c therefore are rotated by the internal gear25' and the gear ratio is such that after one complete revolution acertain point on each gear comes back to its original position. Eachpicker 10' is provided with suction elements similar to those shown inthe other embodiments. For this purpose, the gear ratio of the internalgear 25' to the planetary gearing 10' will be 4:1. A conveyor belt 47 istrained over sprockets 106 and 108 adjacent one side of the pickers 10in a position to receive containers 101 which are fed by a timing screw49. The containers move into association with the picker elements fortransfer of the labels thereto after the labels have been treated bytreatment means 51 to cause them to adhere to the receiving container.Thereafter the label is flattened between the conveyor belt 47 and atable 48' having a resilient surface. During the application of thelabels to the containers 101 they are held between adjacent pickers 10'and the belt 47' and the belt is driven at a suitable speed which willnot cause slippage between itself and the containers. With this latterconstruction, because of the use of the multiplicity of picker elements10', a larger number of labels may be delivered from the magazine 32into association with each container 101.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for feeding strip materials, such as labels, comprisingmagazine means for holding a plurality of labels at a fixed location, apicker having air pressure operable gripping means and movable inwardlytoward and outwardly away from said magazine means, rotary meansconnected to said picker for moving said picker through a continuouspath which extends substantially perpendicular to the surface of thelabels as it moves inwardly toward said magazine means to engage andgrip a label, and which also extends substantially perpendicular to thesurface of the label when it moves outwardly away from said magazinemeans with the as sociated label, said rotary means including arotatable shaft having a crank arm rotatable therewith, said pickercomprising a member rotatably mounted on a second shaft on said crankarm and having a portion formed as a relatively small diameter spurgear, a relatively large diameter stationary internal ring gearconcentric with said rotatable shaft and meshing with said spur gear,said picker having passages therein communicating with said grippingmeans, a pressure control member oscillatable on said second shaftadjacent said picker and communicable with said passages to operate saidgripping means, the rotary movement of said picker member around saidinternal ring gear upon rotation of said rotatable shaft producing thesubstantially perpendicular movement of the picker toward and away fromsaid magazine means, and link means connected to said pressure controlmember and limiting the latter to a small arc of oscillation about saidsecond shaft as said picker rotates around said internal ring gear.picker 2. A feeding device, according to claim l, wherein said magazinemeans comprises a magazine for holding a plurality of labels, and meansfor holding the outermost label away from all the rest in the positionto be engaged by said picker.

3. A feeding device, according to claim 1, wherein said picker comprisesa rotatable member having diametrically opposite outwardly extending armportions, each of said arm portions including at least onev suctionelement comprising said gripping means.

4. A feeding device, according to claim 3, including a plate controlvalve, as said control member, having an arcuate groove defined thereincommunicating with a suction pressure, said picker member having apassage therein for each of said suction elements, said picker memberbeing held in association with said control. member and being movablerelatively thereto cyclically to connect said suction member passagewith said groove for communicating a suction pressure to said suctionmember during the time at which said suction member is moved to engage alabel.

5. A feeding device, according to claim 1, including a rotatable drumhaving a plurality of support surfaces defined around its periphery, aplurality of pickers arranged around said drum at angularly spacedlocations, said magazine means including a magazine associated with eachof said pickers and means for transferring labels from each of saidpickers to a respective support surface of said drum as said drum isrotated.

6. A feeding device, according to claim 5, wherein said support surfacesinclude segmental portions of said drum and means for moving saidsegmental portions outwardly toward an associated picker when theassociated support surface approaches said picker in or e to c' itatethe transf ro alabel ere o.

9. A e etiing device, accerdr ng to cl ziim wherein I each of saidpickers, each arm being angularly spaced,

means for rotating said shaft, and means for rotating each of saidpickers during rotation of aid shaft with said arm, said magazine meansincluding a single magazine located adjacent the periphery of saidpickers and arranged adjacent the path of movement thereof duringrotation of said arms.

9. A feeding device, as claimed in claim 4, including a rotatabletransfer member having at least one surface which is movable through apath to intercept said picker member after said picker member has pickeda label from said magazine means, said picker member, after movingoutwardly away from said magazine means substantially perpendicularthereto, moving further along a path intercepting the path of movementof said transfer means to transfer a label thereto, said plate controlvalve, at such interception, disconnecting said secton member passagefrom said groove.

10. A label feeding device, according to claim 9, including a rotatabledrum adjacent said transfer means and having a plurality of receivingsurfaces defined around its periphery which are moved through a path tointercept said transfer means for receiving a label from said transfermeans at the point of interception.

11. A label feeding device, according to claim 10, including meansassociated with said transfer means and said drum for facilitating therelease of the label from said transfer means and the attachment of thelabel to said drum.

12. A label feeding device, according to claim 11, wherein said supportsurfaces are comprised of individual segmental members, cam meansassociated with said members for moving said members outwardly tointercept the path of movement of said transfer means, and suction meanscarried onto said segmental members for sucking and gripping a labelwhen said support means is moved into association with said transfermeans.

13. A label feeding device, according to claim 9, including a pluralityof radially extending crank arms arranged around said shaft at angularlyspaced locations and a picker member rotatably supported on each of saidcrank arms so as to be arranged tangent to a cylinder defined by a linethrough the outer peripheries of said picker members, said magazinemeans including a magazine located substantially tangential to saidcylindrical surface.

1. A device for feeding strip materials, such as labels, comprisingmagazine means for holding a plurality of labels at a fixed location, apicker having air pressure operable gripping means and movable inwardlytoward and outwardly away from said magazine means, rotary meansconnected to said picker for moving said picker through a continuouspath which extends substantially perpendicular to the surface of thelabels as it moves inwardly toward said magazine means to engage andgrip a label, and which also extends substantially perpendicular to thesurface of the label when it moves outwardly away from said magazinemeans with the associated label, said rotary means including a rotatableshaft having a crank arm rotatable therewith, said picker comprising amember rotatably mounted on a second shaft on said crank arm and havinga portion formed as a relatively small diameter spur gear, a relativelylarge diameter stationary internal ring gear concentric with saidrotatable shaft and meshing with said spur gear, said picker havingpassages therein communicating with said gripping means, a pressurecontrol member oscillatable on said second shaft adjacent said pickerand communicable with said passages to operate said gripping means, therotary movement of said picker member around said internal ring gearupon rotation of said rotatable shaft producing the substantiallyperpendicular movement of the picker toward and away from said magazinemeans, and link means connected to said pressure control member andlimiting the latter to a small arc of oscillation about said secondshaft as said picker rotates around said internal ring gear. picker
 2. Afeeding device, according to claim 1, wherein said magazine meanscomprises a magazine for holding a plurality of labels, and means forholding the outermost label away from all the rest in the position to beengaged by said picker.
 3. A feeding device, according to claim 1,wherein said picker comprises a rotatable member having diametricallyopposite outwardly extending arm portions, each of said arm portionsincluding at least one suctioN element comprising said gripping means.4. A feeding device, according to claim 3, including a plate controlvalve, as said control member, having an arcuate groove defined thereincommunicating with a suction pressure, said picker member having apassage therein for each of said suction elements, said picker memberbeing held in association with said control member and being movablerelatively thereto cyclically to connect said suction member passagewith said groove for communicating a suction pressure to said suctionmember during the time at which said suction member is moved to engage alabel.
 5. A feeding device, according to claim 1, including a rotatabledrum having a plurality of support surfaces defined around itsperiphery, a plurality of pickers arranged around said drum at angularlyspaced locations, said magazine means including a magazine associatedwith each of said pickers and means for transferring labels from each ofsaid pickers to a respective support surface of said drum as said drumis rotated.
 6. A feeding device, according to claim 5, wherein saidsupport surfaces include segmental portions of said drum and means formoving said segmental portions outwardly toward an associated pickerwhen the associated support surface approaches said picker in order tofacilitate the transfer of a label thereto.
 7. A feeding device,according to claim 6, wherein said means for moving said segmentsoutwardly toward the associated picker include a supporting leg for eachsupport surface and cam means for guiding said supporting leg during therotation of said drum.
 8. A feeding device, according to claim 1,including a plurality of pickers, said rotary means including arotatable central shaft, a radially extending arm for each of saidpickers, each arm being angularly spaced, means for rotating said shaft,and means for rotating each of said pickers during rotation of aid shaftwith said arm, said magazine means including a single magazine locatedadjacent the periphery of said pickers and arranged adjacent the path ofmovement thereof during rotation of said arms.
 9. A feeding device, asclaimed in claim 4, including a rotatable transfer member having atleast one surface which is movable through a path to intercept saidpicker member after said picker member has picked a label from saidmagazine means, said picker member, after moving outwardly away fromsaid magazine means substantially perpendicular thereto, moving furtheralong a path intercepting the path of movement of said transfer means totransfer a label thereto, said plate control valve, at suchinterception, disconnecting said secton member passage from said groove.10. A label feeding device, according to claim 9, including a rotatabledrum adjacent said transfer means and having a plurality of receivingsurfaces defined around its periphery which are moved through a path tointercept said transfer means for receiving a label from said transfermeans at the point of interception.
 11. A label feeding device,according to claim 10, including means associated with said transfermeans and said drum for facilitating the release of the label from saidtransfer means and the attachment of the label to said drum.
 12. A labelfeeding device, according to claim 11, wherein said support surfaces arecomprised of individual segmental members, cam means associated withsaid members for moving said members outwardly to intercept the path ofmovement of said transfer means, and suction means carried onto saidsegmental members for sucking and gripping a label when said supportmeans is moved into association with said transfer means.
 13. A labelfeeding device, according to claim 9, including a plurality of radiallyextending crank arms arranged around said shaft at angularly spacedlocations and a picker member rotatably supported on each of said crankarms so as to be arranged tangent to a cylinder defined by a linethrough the outer peripheries of said picker members, Said magazinemeans including a magazine located substantially tangential to saidcylindrical surface.